Steven Pace

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Personal information
Stephen Pace
Full name	Stephen Joseph Pace
Date of birth	March 6, 1983 (1983-03-06) (age 25)
Place of birth	Australia
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Centre Back
Club information
Current club	Melbourne Victory
Number	24
Youth clubs
	VIS AIS
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2001-2003 2003-2004 2005-2007 2007-present	South Melbourne Essendon Royals Preston Lions Melbourne Victory	08 (1) 86 (5) 14 (0) 06 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 December 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Steven Pace is an Australian footballer with Maltese heritage who currently plays for the Melbourne Victory. He was signed on 30 October 2007 as a replacement for long-term injury victim Daniel Piorkowski.

[edit] Club career

Earlier in his career, Pace played for various Victorian teams, including South Melbourne, Essendon Royals and the Preston Lions. He has been described as a "utility" player^[1], having played as a midfielder as well as a central defender. He played in the latter position for the Preston Lions in their successful 2007 campaign, when they won the Victorian Premier League Championship^[2].

When the Melbourne Victory signed Pace in October, 2007, coach Ernie Merrick said about him^[3]:

"Steven reads the game well, has excellent speed, good distribution and possesses great maturity"

He made his first appearance for the Melbourne Victory against the Central Coast Mariners on November 4, 2007^[4]. He cemented his spot in the Melbourne Victory first team, during the round 12 nil all draw versus rival Sydney FC, where he showed great composure in defence.